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HONG KONG vs VANCOUVER

Text: SHAWN BLORE
Illustrations: NORMAND COUSINEAU

1. Soft Drink/Beer Ratio
Not only does a beer cost much more than a Mountain Dew, but Vancouverites still have to toddle off to relatively high-priced government-monopoly liquor stores. Public consumption is distinctly illegal. In Hong Kong, beer, whisky and wine are all to be had at the 7-Eleven. While officially it’s against the law to publicly imbibe, many consume their intoxicants of choice in the parking lot.

In a perfect world, 1:1 or a score of 100; anything lower is sobering.

Hong Kong 57.5
Vancouver 27.6

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2. Carbohydrate Comparison
A Power Cookie from Caper’s health-food grocery in Vancouver is like a serving of granola. It’s so good for you – and so not tasty. In Hong Kong, we opted for shao mai, microwaveable dim sum treats also available from the trusty 7-Eleven. The xia long bao (pork wontons) rated 80 points, but alas for the tally (and the waistline), we deduct a serious Fat Factor.

A Parisian croissant is a baseline 100; other carbs must rise to the challenge.

Hong Kong 69
Vancouver 57

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3. Babe and Hunk Index
For a populace young and fit enough to climb mountains, Vancouverites’ score is surprisingly low. Even in the downtown office canyons, they dress as if they’re setting off to bag a peak. While our index allows for local variations, the urban camper fits squarely in the "slovenly" category. The exception: the polished look of the city’s sizable Chinese population. Perhaps the Asian propensity for understated elegance helps explain Hong Kong’s high score.

Summed average of stylish head turners in a crowd of 100.

Hong Kong 79.5
Vancouver 44

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4. Street Life Indicator
In Vancouver, a half-hour downtown walk along Robson, Granville and Water streets offered speed chess ($2 a game), paintings, charcoal portraits, native carvings, an old hippie singing, a street kid begging, silver jewelry and veggie hotdogs. A stroll through Hong Kong’s Central District offered a somewhat less rich array: newspapers, cheap sunglasses, handbags, watches, radios, paper lanterns and a charity kiosk – no food, clothing or outdoor entertainment.

Percentage of goods and attractions available on a busy street or square.

Hong Kong 57
Vancouver 86

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5. Public Order Index
Drug laws are so regularly flouted in Vancouver that strolling down any street you’re likely to get a second-hand whiff of spliff. Yet pedestrians do not jaywalk – ever. As a consequence, traffic flows smoothly. (Taxi trip from Gastown to Kitsilano: 2.07 minutes/km.) Hong Kong jaywalkers maintain a healthy disrespect for traffic regulations. Despite this, a taxi trip from Deep Water Bay to the South Horizons housing complex went even faster than the ride in Vancouver (1.47 minutes/km).

Average number of jaywalkers in a crowd of 200 people (low score, low fun factor).

Hong Kong 18.5
Vancouver -1.5

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Conclusion: More than the Pacific Ocean separates these two entrepôt cities: one a laid-back West Coast Shangri-La; the other a city of 24/7 go-go capitalism. On every count except street life, Hong Kong proved itself to be the more highly civilized city.

Hong Kong 281.5
Vancouver 213.1

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STANDINGS:

Rio	383.3
Rome	380.3
Paris	353.5
Mexico	346.1
Amsterdam	343.2
Buenos Aires	331.8
Zurich	325.8
Berlin	325.3
London	294.1
Mumbai	289.5
San Francisco	283.8
Tokyo	283.8
Hong Kong	281.5
Moscow	277.9
Shanghai	259.2
New York	255.1
Toronto	249.1
Washington	242.0
Montréal	233.9
Los Angeles	220.6
Vancouver	213.1
Chicago	197.1

Next Match : St. Petersburg vs. Havana – exclusively at enroutemag.com in December 2004.

Watch for a Civilization Index finale in January 2005. [ ]

St. Petersburg vs Havana

Rome vs Buenos Aires
Washington vs Moscow
Mexico vs Tokyo
London vs Mumbai
Chicago vs Berlin
San Francisco vs Shanghai
Toronto vs Zurich
Hong Kong vs Vancouver
Montreal vs Amsterdam
New York vs Paris
Los Angeles vs Rio de Janeiro

STANDINGS

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